Wrench.



A Pa'ten'ted luly I,l902. G. W. BUOZEB.

Na.y 703,636.

WRE NC H.'

'Application led Nov. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Hmm mmmmmmmmmmmmm hereby declare the following to be a full,rclear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which UNITED STATES` vPATENT OFFICE..

GEORGE W. BOOZER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,636, dated July 1,1902. Application iled November 11,'1901. Serial No. 81,896. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whom it 11i/Cty concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE W. BooZER,A

Antonio, in the county of`BeXar and State' of Texas, have invented'certain'n'ewand useful Improvements in Wrenches; andI do it appertainsto make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in wrenches; and it consists in theimproved means for operating the movable jaw thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, and in whichlike parts are designated by the same letters of reference in theseveral views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wrench, thehandle thereof being broken away and showing the movable jaw in section.Fig. 2 is aperspcctive view of the lever for operating the clutchplate;and Fig 3 is a side elevation of Jthe fixed jaw, showing the milledsurface on the inner side of the shank.

a represents the side of the shank of the wrench provided with the usualhandle, (not shown,) and b is the fixed jaw of the same.

c represents a movable jaw, which is hollowed out or recessed, as at d,and provided with the connecting webs or ears e f, engaging the outersurface of the shank. The recess dis enlarged at its upper end, as at g,and extends into the projecting portion which forms the gripping-surfaceoffthe movftbley In this enlarged portion g ofthe recess Jaw. is fittedthe movable clutch-plate h, provided with Ythe angular and milledsurface fi, adapted to engage with the milled surface j on the inside ofthe shank of the wrench. The

Vplate h being loosely mountedin the enlarged portion ofthe recess isfree to move upwardly Vor downwardly for a certain distance, but onaccount of the shape of the recessV the outer or rounded edge of theplate-is capable only of a comparatively limited movement. This clutchor locking-plate h is also provided onV vided with the curved shouldern, engaging the curved lug k for operating the lockingplate h. Theleverf'fl is alsorprovided with the lug o, adapted to engage in ashallow groovep, disposed longitudinally of the shank ofthe wrench, andacts as the fulcrum of the lever. Lugs q are formed on the sides of the:le'ver' and en gage a coiled spring r, surround- 'ing the lever andsupported at its other end .by'the base of the movable jaw. Althoughv Ihave shown a coiled spring surrounding the lever it will be obvious thatany other suitable method of retaining the lever and locking-plate inthe proper position relative to each other may be employed, if desired.It will be understood that the base of the movable jaw is suitablyslotted, as at s, to allow of the passage of the lever Z therethrough.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the wrench is to bedisengaged from the nut or bolt operated upon, the operator pressesinwardly on the curved linger or handleof the lever, which, turning onits fulcrum o, presses outwardly and downwardly on the curved lg 7c ofthe locking-plate, releases the same from engagement with the milledsurface of the shank, and allows the jaw to be moved freely in eithervdirection on the shank. The spring r being compressed during the inwardand slightly-downward movement of the lever will, upon the lever beingreleased, force the locking-plate or clutch back again into engagementwith the milled 'surface of-` the. shank, thus preventing furtherdownward movement 'of the movable jaw.

Whiletheflever isin lthe position shown in Fig.'1 it is Jthereforeobvious that any attempt to move the movable jaw away from the fixed jawwill make the locking-plate bind tighter against the shank, to bereleased s only by operating the lever. It is also obvious that themovable jaw` can'at all times be moved toward the xed jaw, independentof the operation of th'elever. A

WhileIwhave described my-invention in .detail asf above,-it-is evidentthat various ICO having an enlarged recess in the upper portion thereofextending into the projecting lip of said movable jaw, a locking-plateloosely mounted in said movable jaw engaging at one end said enlargedrecess and at its other end said shank, and a lever engaging saidlocking-plate and movable transversely of said movable jaw fordisengaging said locking-plate and shank.

2. In a wrench, the combination with the fixed jaw and milled shank, ofa hollow movable jaw provided with an enlarged recess in the upperportion thereof, a locking-plate, loosely carried in said hollow movablejaw, engaging at one end the wall of said enlarged recess and at itsother end provided with a milled angular surface engaging said milledshank, and a lever engaging said lockingplate and movable transverselyof said hollow jaw for disengaging said locking-plate and shank.

3. In a wrench, the combination with the shank and xed and movable jaws,ot' a locking-plate carried by said movable jaw and engaging said shank,a curved lug formed on said locking-plate, and a spring-controlled leverprovided with a curved shoulder engaging said curved lug and movabletransversely of said movable jaw for releasing said locking-plate.

4. In a wrench, the combination with the fixed jaw and shank, a shallowgroove disposed longitudinally of said shank, a hollow movable jawprovided with an enlarged re cess, a locking -plate mounted in saidenlarged recess and engaging said shank, a lever engaging saidlocking-plate and a lug on said lever engaging said shallow groove andadapted to act as the fulcrum of said lever when the lever is movedtransversely of the hollow jaw for releasing the locking-plate.

5. In a wrench the combination with the ixed jaw and milled shank, of ahollow jaw provided with an enlarged recess at the upper portionthereof, a locking-plate loosely mounted in said enlarged recess andengaging said milled shank, a curved lug formed on said locking-plate, alever carried by said movable jaw, provided at one end with a curvedfinger or handle portion and at its other end with a curved shoulderadapted to engage said curved lug on the locking-plate, lugs formedtransversely of said lever, anda spring engaging said transverse lugsand said movable jaw for retaining said lever in position.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. W. BOOZER.

Vitnesses:

T. S. CUNNINGHAM, G. C. CoNvERs.

